House of the Dragon S2: Episode 8 Review
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- Опубліковано 22 жов 2024
- Our review of episode 8, "The Queen Who Ever Was"! RESCHEDULED for 8/7 at 6 pm eastern - our flight back from NYC was delayed (possibly cancelled) due to the storm and we won't be home in time for our usual timeslot. Tune in Mondays at 6 pm eastern for Review episodes and Saturdays at 3 pm eastern for Preview (spoiler-filled) episodes, with special guests.
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Certainly a disappointing finale with some questionable choices, but as always we will see how season 3 goes in a few years. Perhaps some new writers in the writer's room. And hopefully HBO will stfu and let them get back to 10 episodes. Because 8 is too few.
I thought Coles monolog in the confrontation with Gawain was almost Shakespearian. It was a surprise highlight for me and well done by Fabian.
Agreed. In fact, I thought Fabian was a good actor before, but I thought he was a great actor just for that scene.
People were complaining about Cole so much in the first few episodes and I kept saying relax, Cole is gonna be a highlight once he steps into his element which is battle. And he’s turned out to be one of my favourite arcs of the season.
To me "Leave me again at your peril" does not indicate she was thinking about Mysaria at all.
She does shy away from him when he goes in for the forehead touch they've done in the past so I think Mysaria could have been on her mind then
The communication between people in the show is horrible Rhaenyra consistently does not talk about her plans and just runs off to "do things" (Flies off to mourn Luc, secretly goes to KL to meet Alicent, flies off to confront Addam... Flies off to confront Daemon...). No wonder Jacaerys does the same thing with the Freys... Daemon sends no word from Harrenhal... The Greens have plenty of their own examples too... So much confusion could be avoided by simple explanations prior to actions with one or two trusted advisors who can explain to the rest... Rhaenyra is dropping the ball in preparing Jace how to lead...
The war could've been prevented in so many ways, it's impressive they made it happen
My read on Aegon "the realms delight" was that he feels emasculated. It felt like dark sarcasm.
Good catch! Aegon using dark humor.
Rhaenyra says "and who will pay the price" and mysaria looks at the dragons. Maybe she sees the ship but the dragons are framed and they certainly do pay the price.
My heart breaks seeing the dragons be hurt, and we all know their fate so watching this show is a bit masochistic lol. Seeing Sunfire get shredded and cry out as such a young dragon was like watching a kitten be mauled by a big dog. It's fascinating how the graphics people give them these qualities that elicits these feelings for something that doesn't exist in the real world lol. Much respect to them.
Lmfao Alyn Velaryon is the silent kid in class who suddenly tells a zinger and puts the teacher to shame. Get rekt Corlys. You earned it.
Also I love Sheepstealer 😂. I like his knarly look.
I think this episode can be summed up with good-great episode, terrible finale. Overall I liked this season a lot, leaning into the magic more and the dragon stuff and most of the character duos were great. Like larys aegon and Cole gwayne. But overall season 1 was better imo, I really hope hbo doesn’t mess up and limit the show runners again next season.
I personally loved this season, especially given the fact that HBO demanded it be 8 episodes AND there was a huge writer’s strike. Both things well out of the shows control. It really did feel like seasons 1 and 2 of Thrones. Can’t wait for season 3 and bring on Knight of the Seven Kingdoms!
Finally. Someone with some common sense! Couldn't agree more.
I think Warner media overall lost the money, not just HBO. Aquaman, The Flash, and I think there were a few others. Also some of the streaming I am sure...
But hey, Dune did well!
I wonder if Helena’s “I forgive u” that she said to Alicent was in relation to this deal Alicent has made with Rhenyra
I also thought the Green Man seemed small and instantly assumed a possible Child that just so happened to have horns. But when Daemon was also next to the tree they seemed to stand about the same height. Maybe its the antlers but which would easily give the Green man an extea foot or 2. But i personally dont have the ability to look at the 2 frames side by side. Either way its pretty cool to actually see a Green Man and for it to honestly not look like simply a man wearing a hat with antlers tacked on like the Maesters tend to believe.
I guess I could add that maybe the green men are simply Male COTF. I seem to remember the children in the cave with bran being female( or possibly female) since they are described as having the ears of a deer already in their description a male deer has antlers. While a female generally doesn't. Sexual dimorphism happens all the time in Nature. So a male could also be taller etc.
15 MILLION MERRITS! One of the best tv episodes of all time! love early black mirror before netflix bought it over. White Christmas is a classic too
Somehow I missed the clip of bloodraven. THE IMPLICATIONS!
25:24 I can't remember which character said it in GOT, but there was a joke about all the Lannisters looking alike (maybe Cersei to her cousin?). So I took it as a bit of cheekiness from the casting dept re: Hugh/Tyland/Jason.
& I took Sharako's ambiguity as a tactic to keep enemies on their toes, especially considering pirate superstition regarding women on board.
I completely forgot the actor for Tyland was ser Hugh
Also Luna love goods father in harry potter I think
1:39:36 The sense of Hughmor and sense Hughmility jokes were right there! 😂 Love you guys, keep doing what you're doing!
Really funny to me that Aemond views himself as the person 'most wronged' from his ivory tower, bullying from Aegon and losing his eye making him so bitter and narrow-minded that he can't think of the consequences of his actions because he eternally justifies his own view over anyone else's. "We all must make our sacrifices" as the last time he's sacrificed ANYTHING was his eye.
Shawn's idea for Nettles being an obi-wan-like character who mentors Rhaena is actually super interesting to me. Perhaps a rogue dragon-keeper, fed up with King's landing, stole away with an egg and raised a dragon on sheep. Rhaena meets her and is briefly tutored before the Nettles character dies and then Rhaena takes on her book storyline from that point on?
can't stress enough how corny that sounds
This sounds terrible please read the damn book.
The biggest problem is no episode nines and 8 episodes is not enough imo ........But still enjoyable and looking forward to s. 3......
I am also happy with the intrigue which does not cost as much as the action so can fill more episodes. Then some moan its filler
no pleasing everyone as we all know....lol....Cheers to all three of you for you commentary & reviews of S.3.
*rubs hands together* 🍿
No disrespect. I truly am a fan, but sometimes I suspect that you hold back in regards to your true feelings about the show. Hold back in the sense of not messing up your existing relationships with the show runners and GRRM. I’m still going to watch you folks regardless, but I wanted to say that.
So, someone who has a different opinion than you, is obviously hiding their true feelings lol OK whatever you say, champ...(or maybe, you know, other opinions exist).
@@marksaunders3723 why so obnoxious?
@@syntychiahintsin-tee-shaks2256 it’s true, they do sugarcoat it . Any rational person knows this was garbage and any fan should be pissed
@@AegonTheUnlikely mind you, I really enjoy the channel, but it’s so obvious now. This is still my “go to” place for their brilliant book analysis.
What is so bad about this season that makes you feel this way?
Happy Birthday to the true queen of the seven kingdoms!
I saw a comedy reviewer call this episode "the sneeze that never was" lol and i couldn't describe the feeling any better.
thank you
Yeah Shawn was rt vhager was sitting before he took off
Yeah I don't understand the people who think all the different aspects of magic are separate from each other. In my own opinion magic is magic and people access it in different ways.
It's like where and/or how you grew up shapes your view and experience of the supernatural. Different cultures have different names for it, bit it might just be the same thing they're interacting with.
Magic is like a highway with different on ramps like fire, ice, water, earth etc. Heleana managed to find the on ramp to the old gods magic, which was kind of neat.
@@yogadork_namaste or rather heleana, and the "old gods" who are likely just the most powerful greenseers and the weirwoods themselves, both found on ramps to the same place.
Continuity?!?! This show doesn’t follow its own continuity!!!
1:59:00 - I honestly thought the White Walker looked fine. Pretty much exactly what we saw on GoT. Not sure what the issue was with that.
i hate to sound like i want to police the girls tone (idk what her name is), but why is she always shouting??? why is she always confrontational about her head canons?
LOL true
2:07:32 i agree the way it was written was a little on the nose but I think it makes sense for Aemonds character that he would spiral even further from his death denial. Very Darth Vader like. The ruthless clinging onto life no matter how much suffering and death he thinks he needs to unleash.
I think wonky foot larys just sees the plane is going down and wants to get out while there is still time for the parachute to open, and being in a new place with the king of westeros puts him on better footing than being there alone (pun intended) I think his care for Aegon goes only as far as Argon's possible benefit for him. He is a sh!tty person. He is the personification of everything that is wrong with the royal circuit. Worse than Varys and Baelish combined. He murdered his brother and father who by all appearances was one of the best high born fathers in the realm, and his brother was a good solid dude, definitely a guy you want by your side. And for a small payoff at that.
For me, episode 7 makes everything worth it. Where else do we have such intricate, beautiful dragonage... no where
If you watch Abu on the Glass Cannon Network , Blades in the Dark 45 episodes you will see how genuine
he is. I'm not sure if he will have time for more if his acting career picks up he has been in some other shows.
So far, I agree, I think think the positive things outweigh the negative. I like the show runners leaning into the prophecy aspects of the story but I feel its a bit too direct. As a viewer, I would have preferred a more vague Helena conversation with Aemond regarding his death. I wonder what that brief conversation between Aemond and Daemon sounds like now. Also, Daemon having the vision kind of diminishes his whole arc this season since he needed this vision to convince him to support Rhaenyra. Why not just show him the vision and let him be on his way.
I'm not convinced that prestige TV is the cause of WB-Discovery's streaming losses. I happily pay full price for HBO, but only have Peacock or Paramount+ when it's free. Most people I know feel the same way. Though, we do pay for Netflix because the kids love their content.
52:00 - IMO, Rhaena can't ask Lady Arryn for help in this situation. I think Rhaena needs (or at least feels she needs) to do this on her own. Rhaena wants to prove to her Queen that she is capable and at the same time secure the Vale troops to her cause. she knows running off will be forgiven if she secures another dragon and the Vale.
i agree with all that, but it seems like lady arryn would be obliged to help find her, and i cant imagine her entourage not asking for help. but i guess it's fine to imagine that all offscreen
For me the episode was one a letdown BECAUSE it was a finale. If there were still 2 more in the chamber this exact same episode would pump me up instead of bumming me out.
I kind of hated this season, it felt like the shipping community somehow managed to get a head seat at the writers table and character consistency unraveled due to it. Alicents character assassination might be one of the worst I've ever seen in television.
I like show alicent better than book alicent. She was a cruel bitch in the histories, as rhaenyra warned she would be. But show alicent is more gray and neither all good nor all bad.
Yes, because book Alicent is such a well rounded character lol
5:45 where's the Targaryen sigil shirt from? I can't understand the name of the designer they mentioned
@@mfollonier Sanrixian!
Mysaria is the one who has Plotto!!! A gift for the Queen 🖤
but why is she keeping it secret? (reminder- please dont spoil me! this is just part of me trying to piece together where i think the story is going: when i think about who might have otto, i cant think of why anyone, other than larys, would hide it)
@@dancingsean3836 thanks for the heads up about spoilers! Strictly speaking for the show, she would hide it for leverage. Her motive to take him is, she believes he burned her house down in season 1 episode 9. It was not Plotto though, it was Larys! Larys did it for Alicent in exchange for the show she gave him. Mysaria told Rhaenyra that she wants to push him and the Hightowers in season 2 episode 2, and we see she still has a close connection with the gold cloaks who also hate the Hightowers. I think she got word to one of her gold cloaks and asked them to take him for her before he could leave the city and that’s he’s been held in Kings Landing this whole time.
I appreciate you guys a ton and have been viewing your content for years but this show deserves to be ripped to shreds similarly to the last four seasons of GoT. The episodes dont connect and it's almost entirely nonsense. There is so much more to be critical of than to praise but you all are holding back way too much, but I understand what your job is. Also, Aziz, let Shawn cook a little bit.
What a load of absolute hogwash lol The show has its faults, but "it deserves to be ripped to shreds"? LOL No.
@@marksaunders3723 yes
@@hurm1334 No lol
@@marksaunders3723 you are entitled to your wrong opinion
@@hurm1334 And you're entitled to your obviously wrong opinion lol
While ultimately "good", season 2 of HotD was a frustrating display of deeply flawed writing, plotting, and pacing. In broad strokes, much of the time here is wasted engaging in "wheel" spinning, and, in various ways, forcibly moving pieces on the board in order to get a desired payoff. It's specific sins include (but are not limited to, as an exhaustive list would be WAY to long) inconsistent and/ or dumb characterization, unneeded dialogue to explicitly explain character motivation, "clunky" scenes, scenes that frequently lack the gravitas needed to consistently entertain, and even some payoff moments that, especially upon reflection, seem underwhelming, especially when compared with the source material. But even without the contrast, there is much wasted potential in this block of episodes.
The season did many things well too, of course, but the bad threatens to overtake the good. Not only is it a massive step down from season one-production values and a dragon fight don't matter that much next to everything else-but if season one had been as bad as it's sequel (and season one itself was certainly flawed too, and nowhere close to the dizzying heights of peak GoT...not that it had to be.) I would have never bothered to watch season two in the first place. I DID watch season two, however, and will press on, but I hope season three is a vast improvement because, frankly, season two is close to a plummet down into the realm of mediocrity. And no, the lack of good television elsewhere does not compel me to lower my standards, any more then it can magically erase a shows myriad problems.
Season 2 of HotD?
i dont understand why you think the white walker looks bad..i thought it was a dope sequence
I dont understand either, like i always say, ppl just love to complain lol
I don’t know how they can look better lol. They always looked weird unless it’s the night king
Ashaya I agree I hate the title of this episodes 🤷♀️
Happy belated bday!!
I mean, re criston-gwayne scene, criston doesnt really see alicent as a person either. Everyone in that scene is objectifying her in a way and are completely out of touch with where she's at
i wouldnt be surprised if that were at least mostly true; but i dont think it's beyond cole to regret not supporting alicent on the council, to share her concerns about her kids, etc. he did even express to her a few eps ago that he was trying to protect her from having to do awful things; in that moment with gwane have been considering some of the awful things she may have to do.
As a finale, it left a lot to be desired. As a season, it failed to capture the love of enough viewers. So slow and plodding, nothing happened in 8 episodes that could not have been achieved in 4 episodes.
My fandom is not blind faith. This show is just an average fantasy show much like the Witcher is. You watch, you enjoy or dont, but you move on. This show has very little rewatchability in my opinion, and fails dramatically when compared to the first seasons of Game of Thrones.
Just because they have a different opinion than you, doesn’t mean they’re “blind fans”. Also, your opinion is not an objective fact, so quit treating it as one.
I concur with you on the pacing but I watched the first few seasons of GOT recently and not while faithful, they cut out all battles except the Blackwater, season 2 gave us Stannis but every other character pretty much stays in place and waits until ep 9. Besides feeling the lack of 2 episodes I find the pacing very similar and the writing actually superior. D&D made too many questionable choices out of the gate (excess sexposition, Stannis, changing dialogue to dumb it down, and completely stranding Dany’s character in Qarth and butchering the House of the Undying plot). This writing is much more thoughtful.
Your opinion isn't fact, genius. It's just an opinion and one i completely disagree with.
The woman is the smartest on this panel
Vitiligo Sheepstealer for the win!!
W Shawn, he was def on a cliff. Speak up more and hold fast to what you say bro.
@2ndPlacePrize I made sure it was corrected just a minute later!
@HistoryofWesteros TRUE, but you were VERY dismissive when he was making the statement and if it hadn't been for the ladies' agreement to what he said. I don't believe you would've done it. Listeners' pov here.
There are a few parts in the video that happen like this, and I'm only halfway through. (1 hr in)
Love the content. Just wish you weren't so dismissive at times.
@@2ndPlacePrize oh, sorry, I'm the lady typing this!
@HistoryofWesteros thought you were the host, sorry. However, I'm glad you spoke up and forgive me for not remembering your name. Working and listening.
Im more annoyed that Bloodraven isn't albino. He is the personification of the weirwoods and the old gods
Finale was a disappointment
Good episode... but so clearly this wasnt planned. This is a forced finale. 2 out of 10 as a finale. 😢
Why is the main guy always shooting down everything Shawn says… like yall can agree to disagree chyle…
Yeah….it’s a bit of a running theme. Sometimes they’re both less than kind to him in my perception. I don’t get it.
Yeah it's awful and makes this so hard to listen to. It's really obnoxious because Shawn has some genuinely good takes! The lack of respect is really grating.
I think you may have missed that Shawn did not read fire and blood so thats why they seem to disagree with a lot of his takes. But I really don't see them being rude to him at all, they just tend to disagree a lot and that's part of why. They are friends having a normal conversation/debate on something they really like. That's it.
@@lumer1611I know he didn't read the books. Still maintain there's a lot of disrespect and bickering but to each his own. They're the most long standing and well respected group so I have to respect that. It's just feedback for improvement that can be taken or left
They love ASOIAF so much, and they get a little defensive about the story sometimes. I get it. …but monitoring that passion a bit would not hurt the stream!
Master Orwyle (sp?) I do believe is a good person he does seem to really try to fulfill the requirements and responsibility of his position. Was he on the green council plot to usurp the throne? And I think the "you're a good man" was part "thank you for all the help" and part "thank you good man" as someone might say colloquially to a bar tender.
This season, and especially this episode, have been an embarrassment, an abomination, an affront to Gods and Men. These writers are hot garbage. Good lord. There is no polishing this turd. What an utter disappointment. Ryan Condal and particularly Sara “Mess” Hess should be ashamed of the butchering of George’s work. A shameful display.
I enjoyed this season, as well as the books 😕😕
Oh dear, your a bit upset! I didn't mind it😂good acting, sets, the dragons are cool plus I know Tom Bennett and he's great in it! HotD is better than most fantasy, sci fi tripe that's been offered in recent years on TV!
I like your bombastic tone but I think it's overdoing it. The show overall is pretty average, some aspects being bad, but other parts were good and that cant be dismissed. You weight it out and its average.
What utter bollocks! lol
Seans ignorant of war lol. Even in history armies didn't focus on military targets lmfao they leveled whole cities and executed literally everyone
oh i am well aware, i am just trying to be hopeful for how theses characters i want to root for behave (fwiw i was an intelligence analyst in the 82nd abn)
There were good moments, Rooks rest being the best episode for me, I didn't mind the finale, Daemon finally affirming his loyalty to Rhaneya was a relief, his arc dragged, Rhaneya do, don't go to war was long winded, Aemond and Aegon, Heleana were highlights, Ser Simon Strong was great, the white worm was horribly written and acted and Alys annoyed me😂
Why would Theon feel remorse for rape? Its literally not wrong in his society lol you really need to takr off your modem lenses
because he was removed from his society and raised in a more honorable one. and when he tried to return to his remorseless pirate society, they all but rejected him, his father included. i think because he is a shitty person, he continued to try to make it work, and continues to have an awful view of the lives of women.
also, are you implying that no one might have personal feelings of remorse for sexual assault? that it's only social pressure that would motivate some one to not violate another?!?
Hate is probably too strong, but I really didn’t like the episode title
“This was going to be a season of character development” - Aziz, what character development could you possibly be talking about? Lots of copium in the community with how bad of a disaster this was.
Go comment elsewhere this is not the channel for you.
It's their job. It's their biggest passion in life. I dont think its reasonable to expect a different perspective. I wouldn't go to a religious gathering and ask why isnt there more atheists. I get where you are coming from 100%, but having listened to his podcast since Steve started it and brought on Aziz, I expect nothing less than the ultimate fandom here.
There are other reviewers less in love with the show and happy to share that. Though many just devolve into bigotry and reactionary takes.
right, rhaenyra is still the same as end of season one. daemon is also still the same as season one. aegon is also still the very same, just as alicent, christon and aemond. zero character development. sure, jan.
(yes, sarcasm)
Daemon, Corey's all of kinds landing small folk. The dragon riders, Aegon, Aemond all these characters grew grom the beginning to the end of the season
You don't have a bloody clue, bud.
The Finale That Never Was and no they didn't need 2 more episodes they could have easily cut down all the prolonged Shakespearean scenes in rooms between people banging on the same pots and pans over and over again and Daemons entire Harrenhal The Christmas Carol post bong adventure and give us everything they set up for in that trailer like final sequence😵💫
I think Im done with the show, and HBO all together. They didnt learn their lesson, apparently.
Bye
Bye Felicia
We got rooks rest and the sowing... all the battles are coming in season 3. Now seems like a bad time to quit watching the show, especially if you prefer more battle type episodes.
I would hate to miss the fish feed and the gullet. Heart wrenching stuff ahead.
Bye, bye.